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Prerequisites for Euclid


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What are the prerequisites for Euclid? Years ago my younger son did some Euclid in Greek, and without the Arabic number system, he must not have used any algebra or even advanced arithmetic, right?

 

After all these years, it is foggy. He did math in Latin with Roman numerals, too, and I think that was even more limiting than the Greek number system, but I'm not sure about that.

 

I did some of it with him, and even he was just doing it more as enrichment for math, and more seriously as part of his GREEK studies. So he wasn't trying to complete any part or all of Euclid.

 

So Euclid, as MATH, what needs to come first? And how much is the general goal to complete. I recently heard that Lincoln took some time off of other studies or activities to complete books 1-6.

 

My son also played around with base 8 math, and binary numbers, and the math language/system his dad created for himself because he was never taught formal math but was brilliant enough to create his own.

 

I'm no math wiz myself, but seem to have been exposed to things in math far beyond what someone with my general math abilities would have been exposed to.

 

So, I'm here asking a weird question. Can Euclid be partially or completely completed with just arithmetic? What about the pre-algebra level geometry and algebra in Strayer-Upton Book 3? Book 3 includes constructions and triangle work using equations.

 

Before anyone asks, Google "koine Euclid" for Euclid lessons in Greek.

 

I want to do it in English this time, though. English is good! :lol:

Edited by Hunter
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I'm wondering if it is scheduled after algebra 1 because that is the typical American scope and sequence and maybe they have added modern material to the course that does require algebra.

 

I think the Greeks had some alternative ways to compute that were equivalent to our most commonly used arithmetic algorithm's? So even though they didn't use something, doesn't mean it isn't a prerequisite?

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This is what my kids' homeschool class list as a prereq for their euclid class. My kids didn't take that class.

 

"Students should be comfortable with classifications and descriptions of polygons and some polyhedrons. Some experience with manipulating variables in algebraic expressions and equations is helpful"

 

My favorite version is this free pdf

http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/Books/Euclid/Elements.pdf

 

The version that class use as reference is this one

http://www.amazon.com/Euclids-Elements-Euclid/dp/1888009195

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This is what my kids' homeschool class list as a prereq for their euclid class. My kids didn't take that class.

 

"Students should be comfortable with classifications and descriptions of polygons and some polyhedrons. Some experience with manipulating variables in algebraic expressions and equations is helpful"

 

My favorite version is this free pdf

http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/Books/Euclid/Elements.pdf

 

The version that class use as reference is this one

http://www.amazon.com/Euclids-Elements-Euclid/dp/1888009195

Thank you! That is what I thought. It sounds like the Strayer-Upton book 3 is the perfect prerequisite!

 

Looking at the Greek in the pdf gives me warm fuzzy memories. For anyone looking for help reading that Greek, I managed to grab a link with my phone to a good Greek Euclid instruction site.

http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/classics/nugreek/contents.htm#conts

 

As I am reading through all these political essays and biographies and such, Euclid is being mentioned again and again and again, both for self-education and as formal instruction. These famous politicians seem to think of Euclid as my older son thinks of his morning worship instruction. They seem to think it is critical far beyond math, and part of how they think in general.

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I cannot post at the AO forum, but I'm allowed to read there. I guess they are starting a Euclid study. At the blog or the AO site there was a link to a video that said the Greeks did not have algebra.

 

So, not saying I'm going to do it, or that anyone else should, but it looks like Euclid can definitely be started after just some Strayer-Upton book 3.

 

This is of benefit to know because the free scanned math books don't work so well for exponents and fractions, and therefore don't work so well for algebra. If a mom needs something free, Euclid is an option, and scanned copies look readable.

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